Dispensing device



NOV. 14, 1939. w, E, DOUGHTY 2.179.688

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYSINVENTOR.

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W. E. DOUGHTY DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Nov. 14, 1939 PATN'E OEiQE 2,179,688 DISPENSING nnvion WilliamE. Doughty, Detroit, Mich, assignor to .lames Vernor Company, Detroit,Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application May 23, 1938, Serial No.209,579

18 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to dispensing equipment andrefers more particularly to improvements in apparatus of this characterfinding special utility in dispensing carbonated beverages and the like.

It is generally customary in dispensing carbonated beverages to providea tank or other source of supply of the beverage under high pressure andto conduct this beverage to a container forming a settling chamber wherethe pressure of the beverage is reduced to such an extent as to permitdispensing the same without an objectionable amount of foam.

The present invention contemplates relatively simple improved means forautomatically controlling the amount of beverage admitted to thesettling chamber and for likewise automatically controlling the pressureof the gas accumulated in the settling chamber.

In addition to the above, this invention provides a relatively simpleand highly efiective cooling system embodying refrigerating coils compactly arranged in the settling chamber to cool the beverage in thechamber to the desired temperature in the minimum length of time.

Another object of thepresent invention consists in the provision of aconstruction wherein all of the beverage flowing from the source ofsupply to the settling chamber is required to flow in heat conductingrelationship with the refrigerating coils, and this feature contributesmaterially to effectively cooling the beverage in the minimum length oftime.

Still another feature of this invention resides in the provision of abeverage dispensing device of the character set forth in the precedingparagraphs wherein the refrigerating coils, pressure regulating means,and the means for controlling the amount of beverage admitted to thesettling chamber form an assembly with the latter capable of beinginstalled as a unit.

A further advantageous feature of this invention consists in theprovision of a construction whe ein the pressure regulator and beveragevol-' ume control means form a sub-assembly separate from therefrigerating coil unit and capable of being inserted into and removedfrom the.

settling chamber as a unit.

The foregoing, as well as other objects, will be made more apparent asthis description proceeds, especially when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic view illustrating my improved beveragedispensing equipment;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the planeindicated by the line 33 of Figure 1.

In general, carbonated beverage under relatively high pressure issupplied from the storage tank A to an annular distributing manifold Blocated in the upper end of an annular chamber. C and havingcircumferentially spaced discharge apertures D through which the highpressure beverage flows into the chamber C. A refrigerating coil D issupported in the annular chamber C and the opposite ends of the coil arerespectively connected to the high and low pressure sides of amechanical refrigerating unit, diagrammatically illustrated in Figure lby the reference character E.

Upon reference to Figure 1, it will be noted that the annular manifold Bin the upper end of the chamber C distributes the discharge of the highpressure beverage into the chamber C more or less uniformly around thelatter and, when considering that the width of the annular chamber C isrelatively small as compared to the diameter of the cooling coils, itfollows that all of the beverage discharged into the chamber C isrequired to flow in heat conducting relationship to the refrigeratingcoils. As a consequence, the temperature of the beverage dropssubstantially as it flows from the top of the annular chamber C to thebottom of the latter, and this is desirable in that it insureseffectively cooling a large volume of the beverage in the minimum timeinterval.

The beverage is discharged from the bottom of the annular chamber C intothe settling cham ber F through a pressure operated valve G supportedwithin the settling chamber F in a manner to be presenfiy described. Thevalve G is automatically operated by a pressure regulator H to controlthe amount of beverage discharged into the settling chamber. As will bemore fully hereinafter described, the pressure regulator is set to openthe valve G when the pressure in the settling chamber F drops below apredetermined amount and to close this valve when the pressure exceedsthis amount. The pressure required for operating the valve G isordinarily dependent upon the head or distance that the beverage mustflow vertically through the discharge conduit I to the point of demand,and provision is made for adjusting the regulator to vary this pressure.

When the valve G is opened by a drop in pressure below the predeterminedamount aforesaid,

the high pressure beverage flowing into the settling chamber F liberatesa gas, and this gas is allowed to escape from the settling chamberthrough the medium of a valve J. The valve J is automatically operatedby means of a float K and gas continues to escape through this valveuntil the level of the beverage in the settling chamber F has reached apoint where the float K is raised to such an extent as to close thevalve J. As a consequence, the gas liberating from the beverage in thesettling chamber builds up a pressure in the latter and when thispressure exceeds the predetermined required amount, it operates thepressure regulator H to close the valve G. It will be noted from Figure1 that as the beverage is drawn from the settling chamber through theconduit I, the fioat K moves downwardly in the settling chamber F andpermits the valve J to open. As a result, gas in the settling chamberescapes from the latter and when the pressure drops below thepredetermined required amount, the spring L operates the pressureregulator to open the valve G and allow another supply of carbonatedbeverage to flow into the settling chamber.

Referring now more in detail to the specific construction selectedherein for the purpose of illustration, it will be noted that I haveillustrated in Figure 1 a tank II] having radially spaced concentricvertical walls II and I2 cooperating with each other to form the annularchamber C. The width of the annular chamber exceeds the diameter of therefrigerating coil D and the latter is housed in the chamber in a mannerto extend for substantially the full axial length of the latter. Theupper end I3 of the coil is connected to the low pressure side of therefrigerating unit E and the lower end Id of the coil is connected tothe high pressure side of the refrigerating unit through the medium of aver tically extending conduit I5 projecting into the settling chamber Fthrough the inner wall II at the bottom of the chamber C. The operationof the refrigerating unit E is automatically controlled to maintain thetemperature to a predetermined amount by means of the usual bulb l6located in heat conducting relationship with the carbonated beverage.

The refrigerating circuit also includes a temperature operated bulb Elocated in the well M to control the operation of an expansion valve Nwhich, in turn, controls the level of the liquid refrigerant in thecoils D. In the present instance, the liquid, refrigerant level ismaintained substantially at the point 0 and, as a result, is preventedfrom spilling into the crank case (not shown) of the compressor. Also,with the above construction, the warm beverage entering the chamber Cfrom the tank A assists in vaporizing the refrigerant in the coils Dabove the point 0 and thereby increases the efficiency of operation ofthe refrigerating unit.

The top wall of the tank If! is formed of two sections, an annular outersection I1 and a central section I8. The section I8 closes the centralopening I9 through the section I! and is demountably secured to the topof the section I I by means of the fastener elements 20. The outersection I1 is shown as apertured to receive the opposite ends of therefrigerating coil and is also apertured to provide for extending theintake nipple 2| of the manifold B therethrough. The intake nipple 2|projects upwardly from the an nular distributing manifold B and isconnected to the source of supply A of carbonated beverage by means ofthe conduit 22. Upon reference to Figure 3, it will be noted that theannular manifold B surrounds the inner wall I I and thecircumferentially spaced outlet ports D in the bottom thereof are soarranged as to uniformly discharge the beverage into the annular chamberC.

The beverage is required to flow in heat conducting relationship to theconvolutions of the cooling coil D from the top of the chamber C to thebottom thereof, and is discharged from the bottom of the annular chamberC into a vertically upwardly extending conduit 2d. The extreme upper endof the conduit 24 projects through the outer section I? of the cover andis connected to the upper end of a conduit 25 through the medium of areadily detachable nipple 26. The conduit 25 extends downwardly throughthe central closure section I8 and communicates at the lower end thereofwith the valve G which is supported in th settling chamber F adjacentthe bottom of the latter. As shown in Figure 1, the valve G is shown asconnected to the beverage discharge conduit I by means of a brace 21,and the upper end of the discharge conduit extends through the centralclosure section I8. A nipple 28 is provided at the extreme upper end ofthe discharge conduit I for connection with a suitable discharge valve(not shown).

The pressure regulator H is supported on the top surface of the centralclosure section I8 exteriorly of the settling chamber F and is connectedto the valve G for operating the latter by means of a rod 29 extendingdownwardly through the closure section I8. The rod 29 also forms a guidefor the float K and the valve J, operated by the float K, is alsocarried by the central closure section I 8.

The foregoing arrangement is such that the pressure regulator H, valveG, valve J, float K, discharge conduit 1, and intake conduit 25 are allremovable as a unit with the central closure section I8. It will also beobserved that removability of the foregoing instrumentalities may bereadily effected by merely removing the screws 28 and detaching thenipples 26 and 28.

The pressure regulator H is shown in Figure 1 as comprising anexpansible chamber 30, in the form of bellows, having the lower endfixed to the closure section I8 and having the upper end secured to afitting 31. The central portion of the fitting 3i is depressed to form awell 32 and the base of the well is secured to the upper end of the rod29 in order to effect axial movement of the rod in dependence upon theoperation of the expansible member. The central opening 33, through theclosure section I 8 for receiving the rod 29, is of slightly greaterdiameter than the rod in order to permit the gas in the settling chamberF to flow into the expansible member or bellows 30.

The bellows 30 arenormally urged to their collapsed position by thespring L having the lower end abutting the base of the well 32 andhaving the upper end engaging an abutment 34. The abutment 34 isthreadedly mounted on an adjusting screw 35 having a head portionabutting the top wall of a closure cup 36 and accessible formanipulation through an opening in said top wall. The construction issuch that adjustment of the screw 35 varies the tension of the spring Land determines the pressure required to expand the bellows 30.

In the present instance, expansion of the bellows 30 lifts the rod 29and closes the valve G.

As shown in Figure l, the valve G comprises a casing 3'! and a plunger38 reciprocably mounted in the casing 31. The interior of the casingcommunicates with the beverage supply line 24 through the medium of aport 40 and the plunger 38 has a reduced portion 4| at the upper endeffective, in the lowermost position of the valve plunger 38, in thecasing 31, to allow beverage to flow from the supply line 24 into thecasing. The opening 42 in the top wall of the casing 31, through whichthe rod 29 extends, is enlarged allowing the beverage to be dischargedinto the settling chamber F and is formed with a valve seat 39 adaptedto be engaged by the upper end of the plunger to close communication tothe settling chamber.

The foregoing construction is such that when the pressure of the gas inthe bellows 3d exceeds a predetermined desired amount, the valve plunger38 is raised in the valve casing 31 by expansion of the bellows ailuntil the upper end or the valve plunger engages the seat 39 and. closesthe port til. On the other hand, when the pressure of the gas in thebellows falls below the predeterminal amount aforesaid, the spring Lcollapses the bellows 3ll and moves the valve plunger 38 to a positionwherein the reduced portion M registers with the port M. In thisconnection, attention is called to the fact that the valve G issupported in the settling tank F below the level of the beverage, andthis is desirable in that the beverage discharged from the valve servesto not only agitate the beverage in the settling tank, but to assist incooling the latter.

The drop in gas pressure in the settling chamber F required to operatethe valve G is efiected by the valve J and the operation of the latteris, in turn, controlled by the level of the beverage in the settlingchamber F. As stated above, the valve J vents the settling chamber F tothe atmosphere. This valve comprises a casing 44 and a plunger i5reciprocably mounted in the casing. The casing is cast integral with thecentral closure section it and the interior of the casing i icommunicates with the settling chamber F by a port it through one sidewall of the casing. The casing l ialso communicates with the atmospherethrough a passage ll in the top wall thereof and this passage isprovided with a seat 58 adapted to engaged by a relatively soft materialinserted into a recess in the top of the valve plunger ii. The lower endof the valve plunger is connected to an operating rod 49 extendingdownwardly through the bottom wall 5!? of the casing M and adapted to beengaged by the top wall of the .fioat K. The float K is guided by thered 29 and is provided with a finger 5i spaced above the top wallthereof. The finger is apertured to slidably receive the rod Q9 and thelatter is formed with an enlarged head 52 at the lower end forming anabutment for engaging the underside of the finger 5!.

With the above construction, it will be noted that when the level of thebeverage rises, the float K engages the lower end of the rod 9 and movesthe valve plunger d5 upwardly into engagement with the seat it. In thisposition of the valve plunger 65, gas is prevented from escaping to theatmosphere and is trapped in the settling chamber However, when thelevel of the beverage drops, the resulting downward movement of thefloat K permits the valve plunger it to move downwardly in the valvecasing and to open the passage ll to the atmosphere. The gas escapingfrom the settling chamber F reduces the pressure in the latter to suchan extent as to permit the spring L to open the valvev G and allow anadditional quantity of high pressure beverage to flow into the settlingchamber F. As the level of the beverage rises, the float K movesupwardly and closes the valve J. The resulting increase in pressure inthe settling chamber expands the bellows 3% against the action of thespring L and closes the valve G.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank adaptedto receive a high pressure carbonated beverage to permit settling i thesame, a chamber surrounding the tank having the upper end communicatingwith source of carbonated beverage under pressure, valve controlledmeans establishing communicaitc-n between the lower end of the chamberand interior of the settling tank, and a refrigerating coil arranged insaid chamber with the convolutions thereof surrounding said tank.

2. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank havingspaced side walls forming an annular chamber around the tank, meansestablishing communication between the upper end of the chamber and asource of supply of carbonated beverage, means establishingcommunication between the lower end of the chamher and the interior ofthe settling tank, and a refrigerating coil housed in said chamber withthe convolutions thereof encircling said tank.

3. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank, anannular chamber surrounding the settling tank for substantially the fulllength thereof and communicating at the lower end with the interior ofthe tank, a refrigerating coil arranged in the annular chamber with theconvolutions of the coil extending around the settling tank, meansestablishing communication between the upper end of the annular chamherand a source of supply of carbonated beverage, and means controlling theflow of the carbonated beverage from the lower end of the annularchamber to the interior of the tank.

4. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipmerit, a settling tank, anannular chamber surrounding the settling tank and having the lower endcommunicating with the interior of the settling tank, a refrigeratingcoil housed in the annular chamber with the convolutions thereofsurrounding the tank, an annular distributing manifold housed in theupper end of the annular chamber and having circumferentially spaceddischarge ports, and means establishing communication between thedistributing manifold and source of carbonated beverage supply.

5. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipmerit, a settling tank havinga refrigerating chamber surrounding the side walls thereof andcommunicating at the upper end with a source of carbonated beveragesupply, means establishing communication between the interior of thesettling tank and the lower end of the chamber, means controlling theflow of beverage from the chamber to the interior of the tank includinga valve supported in the settling tank adjacent the bottom of the latterand having the discharge side opening into the settling tank below thelevel or" the beverage, a pressure regulator comprising an expansiblemember located at the top of the settling tank and expansible againstthe action of suitable spring means by the pressure of the gas liberatedfrom the beverage in the settling chamber, and a rod connecting theexpansible member to said valve.

6.111 carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank having arefrigerating chamber surrounding the side walls thereof andcommunicating with a source of carbonated beverage supply at the upperend thereof, means establishing communication between the lower end ofthe chamber and the interior of the settling tank below the level of thebeverage in the tank, a valve controlling the flow of beverage from thechamber to the interior of the tank, and means responsive to thepressure of the gas liberated by the beverage in the tank to operatesaid valve.

7. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank having arefrigerating 1 chamber surrounding the side walls thereof andcommunicating at the upper end with a source of carbonated beveragesupply, means establish ing communication between the lower end of thechamber and the interior of the settling tank below the level of thebeverage in the tank, a valve controlling the flow of beverage from thechamber to the interior of the tank, a pressure regulator located abovethe valve and comprising a member expansible against the action ofspring means by the gas liberated from the beverage in the settlingtank, and a rod operatively connecting the expansible member to thevalve.

8. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank, meansestablishing communication between a source of carbonated beveragesupply and the interior of the settling tank below the level of thebeverage in the tank, a valve controlling the flow of beverage from thesource of supply to the interior of the tank, means for operating thevalve in response to pressure variations in the settling tank includinga rod operatively connected to said valve and movable by said pressureresponsive means, a float operated by the beverage in the settling tankand guided by the rod, and a pressure relief valve actuated by saidfloat.

9. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank, meansestablishing communication between a source of carbonated beveragesupply and the interior of the tank, a valve controlling the how ofbeverage from the source of supply to the tank and located in said tankadjacent the bottom thereof with the discharge side opening into thetank below the level of the beverage in the tank, means responsive tovariations in pressure in the tank to operate said valve including a rodconnected to the valve and movable by said pressure responsive means,and a pressure relief valve for the tank responsive to variations in thelevel of the beverage in the tank.

10. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank, meansestablishing communication between a source of carbonated beveragesupply and the interior of the tank, a valve controlling the flow ofbeverage from the source of supply to the tank and located in said tankadjacent the bottom thereof with the discharge side opening into thetank below the level of the beverage in the tank, means responsive tovariations in pressure in the tank to operate the valve including a rodoperatively connected to the valve and movable by said pressureresponsive means, a float slidably supported on the rod and responsiveto variations in the level of the beverage in the tank, and a pressurerelief valve for the tank operated by said float.

11. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a setting tank havingan opening through one wall thereof, a closure cap for said opening, abeverage intake conduit carried by the closure cap and extending intothe settling chamber, a

valve also carried by the closure cap and controlling communicationbetween the lower end of the intake conduit and the interior of thesettling chamber, and means mounted on the closure cap and responsive tothe pressure of the gas liberated by the beverage in the settling tankto op erate said valve.

12. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank havingan opening through one wall thereof, a closure cap for the opening, abeverage intake conduit carried by the closure cap and extending intothe settling tank below the level of the beverage, a valve carried bythe closure cap controlling the flow of the beverage to the interior ofthe settling tank, a beverage outlet conduit carried by the cap andcommunicating with the interior of the settling tank below the level ofthe beverage in the latter, and a pressure regulator mounted on thebeverage cap and operatively connected to the valve for actuating thelatter.

13. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank havingan opening in one Wall thereof, a closure cap for the opening, meansestablishing communication between a source of beverage supply and theinterior of the tank including a valve supported in the settling tankbelow the level of the beverage and carried by the closure cap, apressure regulator mounted on the closure cap for actuating the valve,and a pressure relief valve for the settling tank also carried by thecap.

14. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank havingan opening in one wall thereof, a closure cap for the opening, meansestablishing communication between a source of carbonated beveragesupply and the interior of the settling tank, a valve controlling theflow of beverage from the source of supply to the interior of thesettling tank and carried by the closure cap, a pressure regulator foractuating the Valve and mounted on the closure cap, a float carried bythe closure cap and located in the settling tank, and a pressure reliefvalve mounted on the closure cap and actuated by the float.

15. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank havingan opening in one wall, a closure cap for the opening, a beverage intakeconduit carried by the cap and extending downwardly into the settlingtank, a valve carried by the cap controlling the flow of beverage fromthe lower end of the conduit into the settling tank, a pressureregulator mounted on the closure cap above the valve, a float carried bythe closure cap and responsive to variations in the level of thebeverage in the settling tank, a pressure relief valve mounted on theclosure cap and operated by the float, and a beverage outlet conduitcarried by the cap and communicating with the interior of the settlingtank adjacent the lower end thereof.

16. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank adaptedto receive a high pressure carbonated beverage to permit settling of thesame, a chamber exteriorly of the tank in heat conducting relation withthe side walls of said tank and communicating at a point adjacent theupper endthereof with a source of carbonated beverage under pressure,valve control means establishing communication between the lower endportion of the chamber and the interior of the settling tank at a pointbelow the level of the beverage, and refrigerating means arranged insaid chamber to cool the beverage as it passes through the chamber tothe tank.

17. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank adaptedto receive a high pressure carbonated beverage to permit settling of thesame, a chamber arranged exteriorly of the tank in heat conductingrelationship with the side walls of the tank and communicating at apoint adjacent the upper end thereof with a source of carbonatedbeverage under pressure, means establishing communication between thelower end portion of the chamber and the interior cf the rattling tankat a point below the level of the beverage in said tank, a valveoperated by the pressure of the beverage in the settling tank forcontrolling communication between said tank and chamber, and meanslocated in the chamber for cooling the beverage passing through saidchamber to the tank.

18. In carbonated beverage dispensing equipment, a settling tank adaptedto receive a high pressure carbonated beverage to permit settling of thesame, a chamber surrounding the tank in heat conducting relation withthe side walls thereof and communicating adjacent the upper end with asource of carbonated beverage under pressure, means establishingcommunication between the lower end portion of the chamber and the tankat a point below the level of the beverage in said tank including avalve controlled by the pressure of the gas liberated from the beveragein the tank, and a refrigerating coil encircling the tank and housed insaid chamber for cooling the beverage during its passage through saidchamber to said Valve.

WILLIAM E. DOUGHTY.

